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November 12, 2014

JVC's 4K GY-LS300 + GW-SP100

JVC has launched two new large sensor (Super 35mm) Ultra HD
cameras with interchangeable Micro Four Thirds lens mounts. The GY-LS300
camcorder (pictured below), and the GW-SP100 miniature camera (above) and separate recording system, are
part of its new range of 4Kcam camcorders. The other two (the live streaming GY-HM200 and compact GY-HM170) use smaller 1/2.3-inch sensors.

GY-LS300 Super 35mm camcorder

The JVC GY-LS300 records to SDHC and SDXC cards in Ultra HD,
full HD with 4:2:2 sampling, SD and web-friendly proxy formats. It uses JVC's new
4K Super 35mm 13.5MP CMOS sensor (developed by AltaSens, a sister company
within JVC Kenwood) combined with the industry standard Micro Four Thirds
(MFT) lens mount. JVC has its own Variable Scan Mapping technology, which maintains
the native angle of view for various lenses, including Super 35 cinema lenses,
MFT and Super 16, which means the camera can take a very wide variety of lenses
- adapters are available for PL and EF mount lenses.

“The combination of a Super 35 sensor and MFT mount is a
brilliant solution to accommodate the largest variety of lenses and adapters
without compromising image quality and lens characteristics,” said Gustav
Emrich, JVC’s European product manager. “It gives filmmakers the flexibility to
use high-end cinema lenses or affordable glass to capture 4K/HD footage.”

The camera has dual codecs, which allows you to record two
copies of any video simultaneously (either for backup, or to stream
lower-bitrate live HD over the internet, while recording higher-quality HD.

It can record Ultra HD at 150Mbps (24-30p - .mov files) to
SDXC (UHS-I Speed class3) cards, 4:2:2 Full HD at 50Mbps (24p-60p), or AVCHD
(4:2:0), to its dual SDHC/SDXC slots (for simultaneous, backup and continuous
recording). It also down converts UHD signals to HD for output via SDI or HDMI
for monitoring.

Its live streaming output is compatible with Ustream, Zixi
and Wowza Streaming Engine, and it offers IP Network remote control, remote
viewing, metadata editing (from a phone, tablet or computer), and uploading of
FTP clips - all via a plug-in adapter with a network connection.

The JVC GW-SP100 is a UHD/HD camera head with separate
recording unit (with built-in monitor and a RCU controller). Although it can
record 3840x2160 video at up to 50/60p to SDXC UHS-I U3 memory cards, and has a
Super 35mm sensor and interchangeable MFT lens mount, it is not simply a
GY-LS300 repackaged. According to Emrich, there will be considerable differences,
although as the specifications haven’t been finalised yet, full details aren’t
available yet.

The recording unit includes a foldable and detachable 7-inch
HD LCD monitor and includes a wired dedicated remote and camera control panel,
and is connected to the camera head via 1m, 5m or 15m wired cable. The
separation of the camera head from the recorder opens up many applications for
the system, including industrial or film making set ups on remote rigs, cranes,
or trucks, or as a high-resolution microscope camera and recording system.

It records at up to 150Mbps, and supports up to 50/60p 4:2:2
recording in both HD and UHD (in AVC H.264 format). It has two dual codec
systems and four card slots (two for UHD, two for HD), so that it can record
UHD+UHD and HD+HD (continuous/back-up recording), making it a very flexible
system. Recording is via cost-effective SDHC/SDXC cards; a single 64GB UHS-I U3
SDXC card provides around an hour of recorded UHD footage at 50/60p.

It also has four 3G SDI outputs (for UHD), one HD-SDI output
(HD), two XLR for mic or line input, a 3.5mm headphone socket, 2.5mm LANC
control, and a 6-pin interface for RCU.

The mini UHD camera can be attached to an optional gimbal (pictured top),
which could be used with a helicopter system for aerial shooting, or to offer
anti-shake and anti-blurring technology for handheld use.

About UrbanFox.TV

Christina Fox has trained thousands of broadcasters, videographers, and others to use camcorders - her long list of clients includes: the BBC, Channel 4, ITN, NBC, Discovery, MTV, the Press Association, Endemol, and UK government departments.

Full details about the training she offers, including tutorials and rewritten, easy-to-understand manuals for some of the most popular professional camcorders, are at UrbanFox.TV.She also writes about gardening and photography at the Photographer's Garden blog

David Fox has worked for various broadcasters as a writer, producer, director, and reporter in TV and Radio, and has worked as a journalist for national newspapers and magazines in the UK and Ireland. Amongst other things, he writes regularly about TV technology for TVB Europe magazine.